HOW TO GET UPGRADED - UPGRADE SECRETS REVEALED

Tips on getting an upgrade

The most important thing to remember when wanting a FREE upgrade is to smile, obviously a nice smile is not going to guarantee an upgrade but it helps.

Dress smart, no flip flops and scruffy luggage, always ensure that you are smart and that your luggage looks smart, a gold card attached to your suitcase always gets some attention as most airlines have a Gold level, I have a Gold Intercontinental Hotels membership card that I have attached to my wheeled carry on bag as airline staff are always looking for frequent Gold & Platinum level frequent flyers. If you look like a Business or First Class passenger then you have more chance of getting that upgrade. The first time that I took a flight with my new Hugo Boss bag with the IC Gold card on the front I got upgraded to premium economy with Virgin.

Regardless of how often you fly always join the airlines frequent flyer club, its free and it adds another reason why you should qualify for an upgrade, having got stuck in between two rugby players flying from Hong Kong to Dubai I was moved to a First Class seat because I mentioned that I was a member of there club and had flown out in Business and was willing to pay. Remember that airline crew are unable to check how many air miles you have in your account at 35'000 ft.

The first representative of the airline that you will meet is the airport check in team, most airlines will have three or four desks for economy passengers and another for Business & First Class passengers. It is always worth hanging back at check in and observing the desks and the staff, you will always find that one of the check in team will appear friendlier of happier than her colleagues, we are all human and all have good and bad days so always try to get in line with the happy check in agent.

Most airlines will have a floor person that will be stationed at the entrance to the check in area, this is usually a person in airline uniform. I have once bagged a business class upgrade simply by stopping to have a chat with the greater and explained that I was really excited about my trip to Thailand and that having spent the past 24 hours traveling due to a cancelled flight from Spain. I was exhausted and looking forward to getting to Bangkok. I explained that the Iberia flight from Madrid had been cancelled and that I had to pay for another ticket with British Airways. To make matter worse I could only get a flight to Gatwick not Heathrow so had just spent 4 hours on the Gatwick to Heathrow green line coach service. I asked if the flight was full as I might ask if I could get a seat with a spare seat next to it so I could try and stretch out. The greater said come with me, I may be able to help, I followed him to the Business Class check in but stood back from the desk and after a few words with the lady I was asked to step forward and was presented with a business class boarding card and the greater said "Mr Harding" we have upgraded you have a great trip.

Check in staff can mark your booking with the code SFU "suitable for upgrade" this will flag you up as being a suitable candidate for upgrade with the gate staff.

There are two different tactics on what time to arrive at the airport some people have reported that arriving at the last possible minute meant that the flight was full and the only seat left was in Business or First Class. The other tactic is arriving early as if you are a member of the airlines frequent flyer club a certain amount of seats will be allocated for frequent flyer upgrades that will be assigned until they run out, so if you arrive late they may have all been assigned.

Another great way to try and get an upgrade is to offer to take a later flight if the flight is full, this may include a free night in a Hotel and a FREE upgrade to Business or first Class the next day, remember most flight are always over sold to allow for no shows.

Totally naughty but very affective is the important call that you MUST be contacted as your phone is switched off, simply call the airlines airport office and explain that you are trying to reach "MR X" and his phone is not switched on, can they ask him to call you urgently, when you check in they will see a message on the screen and ask you to contact your office, friend, girlfriend etc you can then delay check in and make a call standing to the side of the check in desk, how you then proceed depends how cheeky you are, I have heard of passengers saying that they where going to propose to there girlfriend but she just told you that she cannot make it because her sister was in a car crash or bungy jumping accident, obviously if they feel sorry for you it helps.

Do you know anyone that works for the Airline that you are flying with? It is always asking if they can help, I know of a friend who would always get an upgrade with British Airways as his Brother worked at head office.

Never book a special meal as this will result in you probably not getting SFU next to your name as Business or First Class will not have ordered your special meals.

If you had no luck with getting an upgrade at check in desk then do not worry, you still have the gate staff that are able to get you that Business or First Class seat, make sure that when you walk in to the gate area that you are looking nice and smart with a big smile, approach the gate staff desk but stand back if they are busy and wait for them to look up and simply smile and say "sorry to bother you but I was wondering if it would be possible to change my seat" or "is there any chance I could get a seat with a spare seat next to it? Could really do with getting some sleep and I am flying to X to meet my girlfriends parents for the first time and they are picking me up at the airport" depending on what they or how they act you can always go for gold and ask "I don't suppose you could press the magic button?" make sure you have a big smile.

If you do not get upgraded at the boarding gate then the only other way to get upgraded is by the Cabin crew.

There are several ways that you can get upgraded by the crew and these include;

A faulty seat, if there are any issues with your seat complain but do it nicely, I have a friend who asked to speak to a crew member and explained that the person sayt next to them kept passing wind however this only resulted in him being moved to another seat in economy.